Hundreds of colorful swings transform a busy street in Luxembourg

The Rue Philippe II and Avenue de la Porte-Neuve in Luxembourg have been temporarily transformed by a new art installation that places hundreds of colorful wooden swings above the heads of pedestrians in the city's center. The delightful view is the work of artist Max Mertens, who built all 450 swings by hand.

The swings are suspended just out of reach of pedestrians, evoking a sense of nostalgia for lazy summer days and childhood memories. With the ropes painted in bright colors, the installation is impossible to miss. In an article published at Dezeen, Mertens explained his intent: “Re-appropriated, multiplied and transposed in an unexpected context – suspended over a downtown pedestrian street – the swing becomes a playful work of art.”

This isn’t the first time Mertens has created a magical and slightly surreal outdoor art installation. In the past, he’s created an “urban game” that passersby could play using a giant red balloon controlled by motion detectors, and sculptures involving balloons, chandeliers, and lightbulbs sprouting from the floor like flowers.

The installation was created as part of a competition organized by the City of Luxembourg and several local groups. It was selected out of five other finalists for display, taking a month and a half to put together the swings and three days for a team of workers to install. If you’d like to catch it while it’s still on display, don’t wait — it’s only going to be up through August 2016.